Combination tool



P 9, 1952 w. N. SCHULTZ 2,609,962

CQMBINATION TOOL Filed June 27, 1946 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEH' COMBINATION TOOL Whitt N. Schultz, Highland Park, 111. Application June 27, 1946, Serial No. 679,610

The present invention relates to a combination tool. More particularly, it relates to a combination tool for kitchen use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel tool which is efficient for removing crown-type caps from bottles, for opening sardine-type tins and also containers of the type known in the trade as vacuum cans or tabbed vacuum cans.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tool for removing crown caps from bottles which prevents damage to the caps and therefor prevents leakage if the caps are replaced upon the bottles after use of only a portion of the contents.

Still another object of the present invention 15 to provide a novel opener for vacuum-type cans or sardine cans or both in combination with a remover for crown caps and in which the crown cap opener cooperates with the can openers to provide a key for eflicient use of the device and such that the can openers provide a convenient handle for operation of the bottle opener.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tool of the above type so proportioned and shaped as to provide strength and rigidity at the portions of the tool where such qualities are particularly desirable and in which the same shape and curvature which contributes these qualities is utilized in forming a more eflicient can opener and bottle cap remover.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a combination tool embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the tool shown in position for use in removing crown caps from bottles or the like;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal medial sectional view through the tool shown in association with a crown cap;

Fig. 4 illustrates the manner of using the tool for removing the tops of sardine cans and the like; and

Fig. 5 illustrates the tool in a position for opening vacuum type cans.

The combination tool of the present invention may be made in different sizes, but I have found that a tool of this type approximately six inches long and two and a half inches wide is handy 1 Claim. (01. 220-52) and well suited to the purpose. The tool is formed in one piece of sheet metal of comparatively heavy gauge (as an example, about onesixteenth inch thick) and may, of course, be plated or otherwise suitably finished. In general, it comprises a long tapered spike-lik portion or shank l0 whi-chflares outwardly, as at [2, near the end opposite the spike to form a comparatively broad key, head or how which may be used for rotating the spike Ill. The key or bow has an opening l6 therein having an arcuate edge IB on the side toward the spike. This edge [8 is adapted to fit in beneath the edge of a crown cap, as will be described presently. At the opposite edge of the opening IS, the bow is formed to provide a flat cross strip 20 which is 'offset by being twisted upwardly, asis best seen in Fig. 3, so that the ofiset portion 20 will lie flat against the top of a crown cap when the edge I8 is inserted beneath the edge of the crown cap and the spike I0 is lit-ted upwardly.

The major portion of the length of the spike l0, beginning at a point approxim-atelyone-third to one-fourth of the distance upwardly from the pointed end, is curved or creased longitudinally to provide a concave upper and convex lower surface. This curvature is carried on into the curved edge l8 which fits beneath the edge of the bottle cap so that the surface [8 has a compound cur/ature.

The extreme end of the spike is taperedto a rounded point, as at 22, and has a longitudinal slot 24 approximately one thirty-second of an inch wide and three-fourths of an inch long. This end portion, that is, the end portion coextensive with the slot 24, is approximately onequarter inch wide at the top and, as previously mentioned, tapers toward the extreme end to form a rounded nose.

Preferably the tips are slightly sprung from top to bottom so that one of them is slightly offset from the other by an amount equal to approximately one-half the thickness of the metal. This last feature is not essential but does appear to make the tool more convenient in digging out the end of the tab of a vacuum can from the paper label with which such cans are frequently surrounded. At a point approximately an inch and a quarter or so up from the tip, the spike is provided with a second slot approximately three-quarters of an inch long, this second slot being indicated by the numeral 26. It is formed in the edge of the tool so as to provide a prong 28 having a width, or, in other words, a stiffness somewhat less than that of one of the prongs coextensive with the slot 25. I have found that a prong approximately one-sixteenth of an inch wide is satisfactory. Also, the lower end of the prong is tapered slightly so that the free end is somewhat narrower than the opposite end. Such tapering helps in removing the tool from the coiled up strip of metal after the can has been opened.

The tool is used for opening a vacuum can as is indicated at Fig. 5. That is, the end of tab 30 is lifted up by the end of the tool and is then embraced within the slot 24 after which the key is rotated by turning the bow 14 so as to tear the upon the left-hand edge of the can while the wider portion of the spike above the slot rolls on the right-hand edge. Because of the larger diameter of the right-hand portion of the tool, the spike-will tend to advance faster on the righthand side than on the left-hand side with the result that the spike rolls around into a position where it is traveling substantially lengthwise of the 'can. This permits more efficient removal of the lid since it prevents any portion of the top overhangingbeyond theend of the tool such that it 'may tend to-twist upon itself to the extent that it cracks and. breaks as frequently happens with ordinary key-type openers.

By inspection it will be seen that the spike end of the tool forms a convenient handle for proper use of the crown cap opener and that although this handle is tapered toward the end so as to operate properly as a vacuum can opener, the portion of .the .spike handle which is closest to the bow and therefore which must beof greater rigidity since there is less leverage as this point, and which further should be wider so as to fit the hand more conveniently, is actually wider as it should preferably be. In otherwords, the taperingof the spike so as to permit easy removal of the coiled metal strips or twisted can lids and whichfurther is for the purpose of causing the spike. tol'rotate in a curved path when the tool is used as a sardine can opener actually operates to make the tool a more efiicient crown cap remover. Also, it will be apparent that the formation of the crown cap embracing portion of the tool provides a box or transversally extending portion which is admirably suited for rotating the spike It so as to open either sardine cans or vacuum cans.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A kitchen tool including an elongated shank having an upper end provided with an enlarged head and a lower end having an open ended slot extending longitudinally and medially of said sardine can is inserted in the second slot and wrapped around the shank-to form a tear-strip, the latter may be axially slidable on the shank so as to be removed from the lower end thereof, and the sides of the lower end of the shank lbetween the end slot forming spaced tines terminating in curved ends at the mouth of the end slot.

\ V'i-ETT N- SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 760,097 Biersach May 1'7, 1904 795,330- Brewington e tal. July 25, 1905 1,461,151 Keeler July 10, 1923. 1,646,719 Young "Oct. 25, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 44,073 Switzerland May 4, 1908 554,062 Great Britain June 17, 1943 805,942

France Sept. 7, 1936 

